“Frankly, you’re not welcome and you have to leave before being deported,” she said.

“There will be zero tolerance for those who don’t follow the rules of self-isolation … this reinforces how serious we are about protecting the health of New Zealanders.

“We’ll take care of you if you take care of us.”

Ms Ardern’s position on deportations is likely to raise eyebrows in Canberra, given her strong words for Australia’s deportation policy last month.

In Sydney, Ms. Ardern stood next to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and told him “don’t deport your people and your problems” – a reference to serious criminals with no ties to New Zealand who have been deported from Australia in recent years.

The government will also impose self-isolation rules on its own citizens by imposing a fine on them if non-compliance becomes an issue.

More than 12,000 people have started or have completed a period of personal quarantine, including five MPs who will remain out of parliament this week.

New Zealand did not register any new positive tests on Monday and only has eight confirmed cases.

New Zealand and Australia have issued strict border controls that force everyone entering the country to isolate themselves for 14 days. Pictured: people wearing masks in Sydney

One is an Australian, reported as Andrew Reynaud, who tested himself in Brisbane before flying to Wellington without knowing the result of the test.

Health Director General Ashley Bloomfield said he was ‘surprised and disappointed’, Mr Reynaud took flight.

A café in Wellington where Mr. Reynaud regularly visited is closed as a precaution.

Ms Ardern said that “festivals, fairs, sporting, religious and cultural events” held indoors or outdoors should be canceled, with further guidance on other events.

“I know this decision is hugely disappointing. I know it will affect many communities, ”she said.

“But we are making this decision in the interest of New Zealanders.

“We don’t want to be Italy.”

Schools and universities remain open, but are asked to reduce larger gatherings.

Health officials have only performed 524 tests since the coronavirus outbreak, which limits the tests to the most likely cases, but they expect tests to ramp up in the coming days.